404. Ex-NYC Cop’s New Financial Beat

Craig had an early interest in Wall Street. He studied economics in college, and even had a “Wow!” moment when his uncle, whose firm had a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, took him on “the tour.” But another pressure was also very strong. “I grew up as the son of a New York City police officer in a neighborhood of mostly civil servants.” Like many of his neighbors, Craig knew well the career path that led to the police or fire department. “About two or three years into college, taking the civil service test was the thing you do. So, I took the test to become a police officer, never expecting to actually do that.” At home for summer break, he received a phone call saying he should report on Monday morning at 8 a.m. to be sworn in. So began his 17-year career with the NYPD, which included stints in Times Square, California, and Intelligence.

“I learned in the police department that you can do the same job and work for one person and feel great, but do the same job working for somebody else and feel terrible. Toward the end of my NYPD career, I worked for somebody who was very unreasonable. I ended up back on patrol on midnight shift in Brooklyn somewhere.  I said, you know what, I don’t want anybody to have that type of control over me ever again.  So, although I was still waiting for a test for another promotion, I went back to school. I decided I wanted to become an accountant and work on taxes and financial planning.

When Craig’s daughter, an accounting student, was researching the top six accounting firms, she read that one of the firms, has a Google campus type environment. “She explained to me what that was, and I said, ‘Wait! We have that!’  And we didn’t even realize it. Our employees—I hate to even call them employees, they are team members—have a lot of input. I think giving lots of positive feedback, treating people like adults, giving them ownership of what they are doing, and hiring the right people is crucial. We’ve developed something here that’s wonderful.”

1.   Everybody is a little different, but ultimately you just have to figure out how to make things work for you. Find your own unique way to achieve your goals.

2.   Eliminate the “head trash,” the stuff in the back of your mind that keeps you from taking certain risks.

3.   Treat your staff with respect, as individuals and team members. A good boss can make or break a job.

4.   Some sacrifice is involved in anything worthwhile.

5.   When you continue to be blocked, just find another way and move on.

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki